Homs, central Syria, (SANA)- Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari said on Wednesday the Syrian economy is governed by administrative and legislative economic system which created economic structure that laid the ground for launching a competitive economy, freedom of trade and financing.

The remarks came in a meeting of the General Assembly of Homs Chamber of Industry.

"The government's programs in the coming years will concentrate on funding business sector at a low cost through financing the export operations and taking care of small and middle sized companies", al-Dardari said.

He explained that the government's future programs include building 25 new industrial zones on the model of other industrial cities in Syria, organizing the import market and stressing the fair competition that encourages national industry which contribute to increasing its production, given that Syria is about to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"Most of the investment projects will concentrate on infrastructure, energy like building industrial cities, airports and ports…and on the electricity sector", al-Dardari added.

The Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs said "Syria is witnessing economic growth, and it's expected to exceed 5.8 percent in 2010….in addition to the big development in the financial, banking and insurance system."

He also said the first indicators of the commercial balance are positive and promising.

I. al-Kazhali / Ghossoun / Zahra